This one is for Tharg

Borag Thungg Readers

This post is entirely dedicated to my love for 2000AD, the galaxy’s greatest comic It is without doubt the most self-indulgent blog post I’ve written thus far and contains absolutely nothing of relevance to personal training in Edinburgh, or anywhere else for that matter, and nay a mention of anything even remotely related Any further 2000AD related posts will be clearly marked so any interested Squaxx dek Thargo can check them out and nonscrots can avoid them

2000AD – a very brief history

2000AD is a long running weekly British science fiction/horror/fantasy comic and as a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each prog. It was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977; the first issue dated 26 February and has been published by Rebellion since the year 2000.

Judge Dredd is the comics most famous character but it has spawned hundreds of others – Sinister Dexter, Nicholai Dante, Finn, Slaine and Caballistics Inc  being some of my personal favourites.

The first issue of 2000AD I ever read was bought by my brother in 1978. I think it was Prog 76 but I’m not certain. I am certain that  when 2000AD merged with one of my brother’s regular comics, Starlord, in Prog 86, dated October 14^th 1978,  2000AD became a regular part of our lives

I read 2000AD every week for almost 25 years, my weekly dose of thrill power a happy constant in an ever changing world until I cancelled my subscription in 2003 when I moved to Europe. Prog 1344, dated June 11^th 2003, was my final Prog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve had no end of favourite stories and characters over the years As a kid I remember really enjoying Fiends Of The Eastern Front and Judge Dredd. In later years I became a huge fan of pretty much anything Pat Mills wrote – Nemesis The Warlock, ABC Warriors, Finn and Slaine spring to mind. I loved Slaine so much I even bought a page of the original artwork from artist Simon Bisley It’s a close call between that and Finn for my all-time favorite Mills strip In more recent times I’ve greatly enjoyed Nikolai Dante and Sinister Dexter. I love Sinister Dexter so much so that it is without a doubt my current all time favourite thrill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the years I often wondered what I was missing. Where my favourite stories still running? What had happened to my favourite characters? What zarjaz new strips had been created?

My curiosity finally got the better of me just before Xmas last year and I ventured onto eBay to see if I could get hold of Progs 1345 – 1400, intending to read them and take things from here. What a ridiculous notion that was  Within 48 hours the project had spiralled completely out of hand and I’d arranged to buy every single Prog that I’d missed (nearly, I’m still looking for 1801 and 1802 so if you have them let me know) from an online thrill pedlar and thoroughly splendid chap by the name of Ian Howe

A week or so later my 450 Progs arrived; in a box so heavy that the TNT man could barely carry it I was quite surprised by how emotional I was; it was as though a long lost friend had returned and I was so overwhelmed that I burst into tears and wept until my nose bubbled

Having pulled myself back together I’ve been happily reading through them ever since My thrill circuits are holding up well and I’m enjoying 2000AD as much, if not more, than ever

For my own personal amusement I’m going to write a few 2000AD related blog posts and share my highlights of the last 10 years with you, starting with 2003 I say a ‘few’ posts as at the time of typing I’m planning to do this for each year up to date but given my recent poor posting rate it’s quite possible that this might not happen

Splundig vur Thrigg

Matt

In case any of you have made it this far and are wondering what the hell some of the words in this post meant here you go

A Guide To 2000AD speak aka Betelgeusian  - Tharg the alien Editor of 2000AD is from Quaxxann which orbits Betelgeuse

Borag Thungg – Galactic Greetings
Florix Grabundae – Many Thanks
Ghafflebette – Out of this World
Krill Tro Thargo – Honoured by Tharg (special award to Earthlets who have helped advance the cause of Thrill-Power)
Nonscrot – Person who does not read 2000AD or prefers other comics
Scrotnig – Thrill-Powered
Splundig vur Thrigg – Farewell
Squaxx dek Thargo – Friend of Tharg (every regular reader of 2000AD)
Zarjaz – Fantastic

P.S. Thanks go to SEOG Scott Heron for his sterling Wordpress media insertion support services, without which I’d doubtless never have gotten this post published